英语小说网

The ninjas stared at Jack and Annie with dark, piercing eyes. The rest of their faces were covered by their scarves.

The tall ninja took the note from her. He looked at it. Then he gave it to the short ninja.

"That's how they climbed the tree," Annie whispered to Jack.

"You can help us?" Annie asked.

"We're trying to help our friend, Morgan," said Annie.

The ninjas pulled iron bands off their hands. The bands had spikes like claws on them.

The ninjas didn't say "hi" back. They didn't move at all. They were as still as Jack.

"Hi," she said.

Annie wasn't frozen, though. She stepped right up to them.

She held up Morgan's note.

The two ninjas stared at each other. Then they looked back at Jack and Annie.

The short ninja tossed the rope ladder back out of the tree house. The tall one pointed down the ladder. Then he pointed at Jack and Annie.

Neither ninja spoke. Jack wished he could see their faces. He couldn't tell what they were thinking.

Jack felt frozen under their stares.

Finally the short ninja nodded once. He put the note into the pocket of his shirt.

The tall one did the same.

Jack gasped. The ninjas moved very fast. They were like spiders dropping from webs.

"Wow!" said Annie.

"No! This isn't a game!" Jack said.

"Come on, Jack!" came Annie's voice from below.

Jack put his notebook and the ninja book into his pack. He pushed his glasses into place. And he started down the ladder.

"Oh boy!" said Annie.

"Come back!" said Jack.

The short ninja darted down the ladder. He went hand over hand. His feet didn't touch the rungs of the ladder.

"Let's go with them, Jack," said Annie.

"Us? Go with you?" said Annie.

Uh-oh, thought Jack. Were they being captured?

Jack sighed. "Why does this always happen?" he asked himself.

"But I think they know something about Morgan!" said Annie.

She started down the ladder.

"Now's our chance to leave," said Jack. "Quick!" He looked around the tree house again. Where was that Pennsylvania book?

Oh boy? Is she nuts? wondered Jack.

The ninja nodded.

But it was too late.

Jack joined Annie and the ninjas on the ground.

Annie grabbed Jack's hand. Together they stepped into the water.

"YIKES!" They both screamed and jumped out.

Jack took a deep breath. She was right.

The ninja nodded. Then he and the short ninja stepped into the wild stream. They started wading across.

"Let's run back to the tree house!" said Jack.

"You want us to cross it?" shouted Annie.

The sun had fallen behind the hills. The sky was streaked with red and gold.

The mouse peeked out from Annie's sweatshirt pouch.

The ninjas stopped near the rushing water of the wide stream. The water roared as it raced downhill.

"Where are we going?" Jack asked.

The short ninja held Jack's arm in one hand and Annie's arm in the other. He led them through the twilight. The tall ninja walked behind them.

"No, we have to follow them!" said Annie. "For Morgan's sake!"

Great, thought Jack. But who is going to take care of us?

The short ninja looked at Jack and Annie. He let go of their arms. Then he pushed them toward the stream.

"Don't be scared, Peanut," Annie whispered. "We'll take care of you."

But the ninja lifted Jack high into the air. And put him on his shoulder.

But the ninjas moved through the stream as calmly as two sailing ships.

The tall ninja grabbed Jack.

The ninjas looked at Jack and Annie. Then they turned around and came back.

"Help!" Jack cried.

"I can't go back in," said Annie, shivering.

Then the two ninjas stepped into the stream again. The icy wild waters swirled around them. It went up to the short ninja's waist.

It was the coldest water Jack had ever felt! It was colder than ice. It was so cold it felt like fire.

The short ninja put Annie on his shoulder.

"Me neither," said Jack. "I'll have a heart attack."